Confused re econetic in towing

I've read about this before on a older Mondeo model.

As the dealer says the gearing is very high.

We tow with a 2013 Mondeo 1.6 econetic Estate. (diesel). Our caravan is 1360kg MTPLM and we have had no difficulties whatsoever. The V5 gives a max towing limit of 1600kg braked. Of course it's true that we have to be sensible with the gearbox, but honestly
the car is a trooper, never hicked.

The catch is - and is with many diesel vehicles these days - is that the power is achieved by use of the turbo but the basic torque is rather low so you will always be revving the nuts off it. The 2L however is a very different beast, although 163bhp is
also achieved by turbo pressure. On the other hand a 140bhp or thereabouts is less blown so will have better low-end torque.

The catch is - and is with many diesel vehicles these days - is that the power is achieved by use of the turbo but the basic torque is rather low so you will always be revving the nuts off it. The 2L however is a very different beast, although 163bhp is
also achieved by turbo pressure. On the other hand a 140bhp or thereabouts is less blown so will have better low-end torque.

 

Quite right although if its not got a turbo it will still get going.................eventually

v9

Of course it's not "dangerously slow"  If you haven't driven this car you can't possibly know. I have, and it's  not.

We tow with a 2013 Mondeo 1.6 econetic Estate. (diesel). Our caravan is 1360kg MTPLM and we have had no difficulties whatsoever. The V5 gives a max towing limit of 1600kg braked. Of course it's true that we have to be sensible with the gearbox, but honestly
the car is a trooper, never hicked.

I think it's important to manage expectations here. You're talking about lugging about your Mondeo's 1505kg kerbweight PLUS 1360kg Van weight with 113bhp with gearing design to be as economic as possible. 

It's a great car for high mpg motorway cruising at minimal revs, but it must be dangerously slow towing and not one to recommend.

I don't mean to offend, just give an opinion

Its wrong to deem a car a poor choice based on engine bhp! Our first tow car was a 2500kg Pajero towing a 1600kg caravan....with an engine output of 120bhp! While it certainly was not fast it could never be described as dangerously slow! As to the gearing......yes
modern cars have gear ratios to reduce fuel consupltion on the highway but it does not prevent you changing gear to suit the conditions and/or towing.

Better to accept advice from those that actually tow with the car in question!

Has anyone  had the problem  we have  just experienced  re a tow car.  We were all set to buy a 1.6 dtci diesel  mondeo  titanium  ecco,  told would pull 1600kg ccaravan,  checked out on caravan  club  site  and several  other  sites , all came
out a good match with towing a 1235mptl caravan.   Still  feeling  concerned  checked with two main caravan  dealers who fed details  into  their  system which came up as showing tow limit of 800kg at 85%.  Both dealers  said problem  on econetic  cars is
the gear ratio and both said not to touch it with a barge pole.  Why is this not brought to our attention  as caravaners, this could have been a very  costly mistake.

Write your comments here...i can understand previous comments re 1.6 Mondeo Eco for performance...I went for a 2015 Mondeo  Zetec Econotec TDCI 2015 model with 1998 cc engine which produces 150 bhp......Towing is a dream and my Swift Challenger Sport 524SR
(2012) behaves in all weathers....I have had six Mondeos in succession and wouldn't consider anything else. The 2015 is so roomy inside and the boot is ginormous . The electric handbrake is marvellous and has an added bonus in that my wife, who has athritis
 in her left hand, can start away on a hill without wrestling with a normal handbrake.